Clubs took tips from Rifle Association for campaign

THE state clubs industry took advice from the influential US National Rifle Association before orchestrating the ''grassroots'' campaign that derailed Labor's poker machine reforms.

Senior executives at ClubsNSW travelled to Washington DC to listen to NRA leaders on how to use a large membership base to force political outcomes, Fairfax Media can reveal.

The two-week, $20,000 course at the American University's public affairs and advocacy institute, was attended by ClubsNSW chief executive Anthony Ball and Josh Landis, senior policy officer and government relations manager.

The speakers included Glen Caroline, director of the ''grassroots division'' of the lobbying arm of the NRA.

Mr Caroline writes a newsletter for teenage gun enthusiasts called ''Straight Shooter'' and another called ''Freedom's Voice''.